Traction in the Present

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Six of Cups; from the Transforming Dragons Deck, Menoros:

Three robed beings pour bowls of water into a reflecting pool, a symbolic gesture of pouring the present into the past. It's good to remember the past at times, such as when we reflect on mistakes so we don't repeat them again or when we relive delightful days that brought us joy and contentment. But the past can also be a place where we lose our traction to act sanely and wisely in the present if we are trying to rewrite history. Menoros is a dragon who lives in the illusion that he can control people and his environment to behave as he wants so that he can be happy. Of course what happens is that things implode and turn out badly, creating more problems. Hopefully he will learn that he can't change the past or control the future, that in fact, he has very little influence over anything except himself. Then he can begin to work with what is internal rather than external.

Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

― George Bernard Shaw

Ms. Sunshine

From the Tarot of the Crone, the Sun; from Transforming Dragons, 'Menoros:'

I am your Bright Shadow

I am the Goodness you've denied.

          The Crone tells us that there is enough suffering in the world; it's time to look for joy in something that got left behind in the daily trudge of life. It's okay to be happy, even when the people around us seem to be miserable. Our 'shine' may even brighten some corners that benefit other people. But Menoros, who loves to control everything and everyone around him, is a caution not to be overly perky with our 'Save the World with Sunshine' anthem. It would be much better if people notice a change in us and ask about it, rather than us chase them down the street trying to convert them. As the 12 Steppers put it, "attraction rather than promotion."

Our help is usually not very helpful. Our help is often toxic. And help is the sunny side of control. Stop helping so much. Don't get your help and goodness all over everybody. ~Anne Lamott

[There is a wonderfully wise and funny 16 minute video by Lamott that can be found here.]
*And turn on the transcripts so you can read along if you wish.